Today, I want to explore a common question that many artists have asked: can you mix oil and acrylic paint?
Of maybe a better question is: Can you use acrylic and oil paints together in the same painting?
As an artist who loves experimenting with different mediums, I’ve always been curious about the compatibility of these two popular paints. I wondered about using them together, since there are things I like, and dislike, about each! I thought maybe I could use them together to get the best of both worlds!
And that I did! But, using acrylics and oils together is not as simple as just mixing them together. In fact, you definitely do not want to do that (spoiler alert).
But there are some ways to use acrylics and oils together in the same painting that can lead to a stunning result!
In this blog post, we’ll explore the answer to this question in depth. We’ll look at the differences between acrylic and oil paints, ways you can use them together, and things to avoid. So, let’s dive in!
Introduction: The differences between acrylic and oil paints
Acrylic and oil paints are two of the most popular mediums used by artists. While both are used to create beautiful, vibrant works of art, they differ in several ways. One of the biggest differences is drying time. Acrylic paints dry very quickly, often within minutes of being applied to a surface, while oil paints can take days, weeks, or even months to dry completely.
Another major difference between acrylic and oil paints is their composition. Acrylic paints are made up of pigments suspended in an acrylic polymer emulsion, while oil paints are made from pigments mixed with a drying oil, such as linseed oil. This difference in composition affects the way the paints behave when applied to a surface. For example, acrylic paints are known for their versatility and ability to adhere to a wide range of surfaces, while oil paints are known for their ability to blend and layer more easily, creating rich, textured works of art.
If you’re a beginner and you want to learn more about the differences between working with acrylic and oil paints, I have a whole blog post on which is better for beginner artists I’d recommend you check out!
Can you Mix Acrylic and Oil Paints together?
Mixing acrylic and oil paints together is not recommended because they have different chemical properties. Acrylic paints are water-based and dry quickly, while oil paints are oil-based and take longer to dry. Mixing the two can cause cracking, peeling, or other forms of damage to the painting over time.
What would happen if you did mix acrylic and oil paints together?
Mixing acrylic and oil paints together can lead to unpredictable results, and it’s not recommended to do so. When mixed, the two types of paints tend to repel each other, causing the paint to separate and crack over time. The resulting mixture may also have an uneven texture, making it difficult to create smooth, cohesive brushstrokes.
Additionally, the long-term effects of mixing acrylic and oil paints are still not fully understood. Some artists claim that the mixture can cause the painting to yellow or crack over time.
Is it safe to mix acrylic and oil paints together?
Safe? Yes. Advisable? No.
Both types of paint can contain toxic chemicals, but there shouldn’t be anything about combining the two that makes this worse. As long as you’re following standard precautions like working in a well-ventilated space and not eating the paint you should be good to go.
Can You Use Acrylic and Oil Paints Together? Debunking Myths
So, we’ve established that you shouldn’t mix acrylic and oil paints together. But does that mean that you can’t use them together at all?
Not necessarily!
The truth is that you can use acrylic and oil paints together without any issues, as long as you follow some basic guidelines.
Not only that, but it can be a great way for beginners to harness the advantages of both acrylic and oil paints while learning.
So, let’s dig into how to use acrylic and oil paints together in the same painting and some ways you might use this to your advantage.
Guidelines for using Acrylic and Oil Paints Together in the Same Painting
Tip 1: Gesso your surface no matter what paint you’re using
Like any painting, whether acrylic or oil, you’ll want to make sure to gesso the surface you’re painting on first. If it’s store bought, it may already be gessoed and would say so on the package.
Gesso is a primer that is used to prepare a surface for painting, and it provides a smooth, even surface that allows the paint to adhere better. Without gesso, the paint would not adhere well to the surface and would likely crack or flake off over time.
When using acrylic paint, gesso is particularly important because acrylics are water-based and can cause unprimed surfaces, such as raw canvas, to swell and distort.
When using oil paint, gesso is also important because oil paint can seep into an unprimed surface and discolor it over time. Gesso prevents this from happening and also provides a surface that allows the paint to be applied more evenly.
Tip 2: Start with Acrylic Paint
If there’s one guideline to take away from this list, it’s this one: You can paint oil over acrylic, but you cannot paint acrylic over oil.
If you’re going to use acrylics and oils in the same painting, you need to do all the acrylics first, and then oils.
You’ll also need to make sure that you let the acrylic paint completely dry before you add oils on top.
Additionally, avoid thick, impasto, layers of paint or glossy paint at this stage, or the oil paint won’t adhere properly.
Tip 3: Never ever Layer Acrylics on top of Oils
Just to really solidify this point: You can start with acrylics and move to oils, but never the other way around! Don’t do it.
The paint won’t stick, If it does, if might dry in an unexpected way and definitely won’t last.
What are some techniques for incorporating both acrylic and oil paints in the same artwork?
So why would you want to use oil and acrylic paints in the same painting anyways?
It seems like a pretty unconventional technique. But actually, there are some good reasons you may want to do this!
I started wondering about the question “Can I use acrylic and oil paints in the same painting?” when I was learning to paint and realized I liked acrylic paint for some things, and oils for others. So I wanted to see if I could use them together to combine their strengths and basically, get the best of both worlds!
That’s when I came upon a couple techniques that rely on using acrylics and oils in the same painting and can truly step up the quality of your art.
Technique 1: Monochrome Acrylic Underpainting
Many artists start with a technique called an underpainting. This is where you go in with a single color of painting and block in the darks, mid-tones, and lights of a painting.
Basically, it’s a value study. And getting the values right is such an important aspect of achieving a life-like end result.
The underpainting is meant to be painted over to achieve the final result, colors and all. It will help you keep your values correct as you paint.
But here’s the problem: if you do your underpainting with oil paints, you have two options:
- You can either wait days for the underpainting to dry before tackling a second layer— not ideal (especially if you’re into alla prima painting or plein air).
- You can paint over wet paint— a recipe for muddy colors unless you’ve mastered the technique.
So the solution? Do your underpainting using acrylics! Then, you can start painting over in oils almost immediately.
Technique 2: Acrylic painting with Oil Details
A technique I’ve been exploring recently is completing the majority of my painting in acrylics, and then going back in with oils to add some final touches.
If you love to paint in layers, this might be a good option for you to start dabbling with oil paints.
The texture, dark darks, and vibrant colors of oil paints is sometimes difficult to achieve with acrylics, but you can use that your advantage by painting oils only in the areas you want to add a little extra oomph.
Here’s an example of a recent painting I did where I used this technique.
First, I started with acrylics.
For the final details, I remixed a few important colors in oils, and then when back in and added some accents. This is what I came up with:
This will really help you learn what you like about each type of paint and how you can use that to your advantage!
Technique 3: Use acrylic paint as a base layer for your oil painting
The simplest of all techniques— maybe you’re just wondering: “Can you use acrylic paint as a base layer for oil painting?”
And the answer is yes! If you like to paint over a solid color rather than white, this is the most popular way oil painters use acrylics in their paintings.
This is a popular technique because if you leave parts of your canvas to show through, you’ll see a color other than white. This can make the painting look more complete and cohesive.
Some artists even choose a “signature color” to use for their base layer. One of the most popular choices is burnt sienna for the warm glow effect it creates.
Frequently asked questions about using acyrlic and oil paint together
Do you need to prepare the canvas differently if you’re using both acrylic and oil paints?
You do not need to prep your canvas any differently if you intend to use both oil and acrylic paints. A couple coats of a standard Gesso will work just fine for both types of paint.
Can you use the same brushes for both acrylic and oil paints, or do you need separate sets?
If you alternate between using acrylic and oil paints, it’s ok to use the same brushes just as long as you clean them thoroughly between each use. I personally switch paint types using the same brushes all the time and have never had a problem!
Though, if you’re investing in some high-quality brushes made for a certain type of paint, you may want to consider keeping your oil paint brushes and acrylic paint brushes separate.
This can also help save some time, since you don’t have to worry as much about cleaning them so thoroughly every time.
How do you clean your brushes and palette when using both acrylic and oil paints together?
Whether I’ve used acrylic or oil paint, I follow the same brush cleaning protocol each time. That is, I use The Master’s Brush Soap Cleaner and Preserver. It truly works wonders to get the paint out of my brushes, and I can’t recommend it enough! Oil is especially tricky, but this stuff seriously has some sort of magic in it.
You can use a scraper to get both acrylic and oil paints off of your palette too. Though, I tend to use a a separate palette for my oil paints vs acrylics.
For acrylics, I like to use a sta-wet palette which keeps my paints workable for days. Oils, on the other hand, I stick to a glass palette.
Can you varnish a painting that has both acrylic and oil paints?
Yes you can varnish a painting in which you have layered oil paints over top of acrylics. Luckily, many of the top choices for varnish, like Gamvar, work for both acrylics and oils.
So as long as you’ve used the paints properly, you can varnish your painting as normal.
Conclusion: Should You Use Acrylic and Oil Paints Together?
In conclusion, while it is not recommended to mix oil and acrylic paints together, there are ways to incorporate both mediums in the same artwork.
By following some basic guidelines and experimenting with different techniques, you can find a way to harness the strengths of both types of paint to create beautiful, vibrant works of art.
Whether you choose to use acrylics for your underpainting and layer oils on top or use acrylic paint as a base layer for your oil painting, the key is to ensure that the acrylic paint is completely dry before applying oil paint on top of it.
With some patience, practice, and experimentation, you can unlock the full potential of these two popular mediums and take your art to the next level.
